| LYNX |
/companies/camputers |
Camputers |
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|
| label |
value |
| MANUFACTURER |
Camputers |
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| label |
value |
| TYPE |
Home Computer |
|
| label |
value |
| ORIGIN |
United Kingdom |
|
| label |
value |
| YEAR |
March 1982 |
|
| label |
value |
| END OF PRODUCTION |
June 1984 |
|
| label |
value |
| BUILT IN LANGUAGE |
Lynx Basic, machine code monitor |
|
| label |
value |
| KEYBOARD |
Full-stroke keyboard, 57 keys |
|
| label |
value |
| CPU |
Zilog Z80A |
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|
| label |
value |
| CO-PROCESSOR |
Motorola 6845 (CRT controller) |
|
| label |
value |
| RAM |
48 kb, 96 kb or 128 kb depending on models (max. 192 kb) |
|
| label |
value |
| ROM |
16 kb (48K version), 24 KB (96K and 128K versions) |
|
| label |
value |
| TEXT MODES |
40 x 24, 80 x 24 |
|
| label |
value |
| GRAPHIC MODES |
256 x 248, 512 x 480 |
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|
| label |
value |
| SOUND |
one voice beeper |
|
| label |
value |
| SIZE / WEIGHT |
32 x 20 x 7 cm / 2 kg |
|
| label |
value |
| I/O PORTS |
Serial port, Tape (600 to 2100 baud), RGB video output, TV output (RF modulator), Composite video output & lightpen\
Optional extension box with Parallel and joystick ports |
|
| label |
value |
| OS |
CP/M optional |
|
| label |
value |
| POWER SUPPLY |
External PSU |
|
| label |
value |
| PERIPHERALS |
floppy disk unit |
|
| label |
value |
| PRICE |
48k : £225 (UK, 82)\
96k : £299 (UK, 82)\
128k : £345 (UK, 82) |
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| photos |
| hardware |
| software |
| emulators |
| links |
| docs |
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| title |
subtitle |
text |
image |
| LYNX RANGE #1 |
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Three computers of the Lynx range |
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| title |
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| LYNX RANGE #2 |
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Apart from the Lynx label, the Lynx 48, Lynx 96 and Lynx 128 are exacly alike on the outside. |
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| title |
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| LYNX 96 |
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| title |
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| SIDES VIEW |
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| REAR CONNECTORS |
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From left to right:\
• TV UHF video output\
• RGB video output\
• Monochrome composite video output and Light pen input\
• Serial RS232 port\
• Cassette recorder In/Out\
• Expansion port, main ly used by the floppy disk unit\
• Power input from the external PSU |
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| LYNX LABELS |
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On top: Kynx 96 label\
On bottom: Lynx 128 label with handwritten serial number. |
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| LYNX IN BOX |
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Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture |
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| LYNX IN USE |
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The game played here is a PacMan clone called Gobble Spook |
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| LYNX 96'S NEURONS |
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The Lynx 48 and Lynx 96 share the same main board but with a different RAM and ROM memory layout.
**(1)** Motorola 6845 display controller, in text and graphics modes\
**(2)** Rarely used I/O chip, the Intersil LM64021, compatible with the more common 6821 chipset. Manages almost all of the system ports.\
**(3)** 24 KB BASIC ROMs (3x2764). The Lynx 48 board only has 16 KB of ROM memory (2 IC and an empty socket)\
**(4)** Z80A CPU, here a Sharp version\
**(5)** Keyboard connector\
**(6)** 64 KB RAM chips (8x4164), replaced with 16 KB chips (8x4116) in the Lynx 48\
**(7)** 16 KB expansion card. A third bank of 16 KB is soldered on the main board\
**(8)** Internal connector connected in parallel with the external expansion connector. |
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| LYNX 128, MORE NEURONS... |
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The Lynx 128's mainboard was completely redisigned to afford larger RAM capacity.
**(1)** Three 8 KB EPROM chips hold the same 24 KB BASIC and monitor as the Lynx 96\
**(2)** Zilog Z80A microprocessor\
**(3)** First 64 KB RAM bank (8x4164 chips)\
**(4)** Same 6845 video controller as the 48 & 96 versions\
**(5)** Second 64 KB RAM bank\
**(6)** Provision is made for a third 64 KB RAM bank. |
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| ENGLISH & FRENCH MANUALS |
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| OTHER ENGLISH MANUALS |
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Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture |
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| LYNX DOS MANUALS |
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Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture |
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| OEIL DE LYNX N°1 |
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"Oeil de Lynx" was the french magazine dedicated to the Lynx.
Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture |
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| THE MAN BEHIND THE LYNX |
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After leaving Cambridge university, **John Shirref** starts building inflatable and portable structures. Then he plays drums with several rock'n'roll bands and starts to be interested in electronics. He is however still going on with his musician and sound engineer career, before he creates the Lynx.
Finaly, after the Lynx adventure, he would goes back to electronic music research... |
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| title |
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| FLOPPY DISK UNIT |
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The case contains the disk drive and its PSU but not the FDD interface wich is connected to the expansion connector of the computer. |
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| BOXED |
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Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture |
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| PARALLEL PRINTER INTERFACE & DISK INTERFACE |
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Thanks to **Nicolas Sapin** for this picture |
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| PRINTER INTERFACE |
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This interface was delivered with a standard Parallel printer cable |
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| SERIAL PRINTER PACK |
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This pack was comprised of a serial cable and a printer driver in a cassette tape. |
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| JOYSTICK INTERFACE |
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This interface was connected to the Lynx's expansion connector and allowed two standard joysticks to be connected. |
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| LYNX GAMES |
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Some Lynx games published in the UK by Camsoft |
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|
| author |
date |
text |
| Lin (UK) |
Tuesday 22nd February 2022 |
We had one of the first Lynx computers. My brother and father sneaked off to the NEC (without telling me) and attended one of the first ''Computer Shows'' in the UK open to the public. They spent the day (supposedly) bench testing various offerings before settling on a Camputers Lynx. Our parents had decided that a home computer would be a good investment and I was hoping that they would decided to get a ''Spectrum''! Both my brother and Dad argued that the demand for one would be huge and even then supply issues abounded,so the purchase of a Lynx was decided. They returned home that evening full of themselves, and much to my annoyance at where they had been without me, announced what they had decided over the tea table. The machine was promised for delivery in short order....... From memory I think it took Camputers at least 4 months after the specified date to get the machine to us - on its arrival my brother was delighted - I on the other hand pointed out the total lack of software support for it, and that the majority of computer publications at the time pretty much ignored it too! We only every had one game for it, based on ''Star Trek'', it was actually pretty good, but had a stupid timer mechanism which meant you could only play the game for about 20 mins before it simply restarted! TBH I couldn''t be bothered with it, primarily because my school didn''t even have a technology department or anybody on the staff who was interested in computers enough to engage with pupils. I think my Dad ended up with about half a dozen of them and various extra''s like a bloody great monitor. The whole lot eventually went to the recycling tip, along with a BBC Model B etc. |
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| author |
date |
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| Colin Baxter (New Zealand) |
Wednesday 20th April 2011 |
Wow, I''m speechless.\
I owned a Lynx, my first computer.\
In fact I loved it so much I went on to do a degree in IT and have a 30 year (and hopefully more) career in IT.\
I used to live in Bradford and I wanted a TR-80 or a Spectrum but I bought a Lynx and I was delighted.\
It''s like reading about your first girlfriend, except she didn''t go on to marry your best mate, she died and went to computer haven. |
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| author |
date |
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| Petter Lenge (Norway) |
Friday 12th September 2008 |
I was one of the founders of the Norwegian Lynx User Group.\
We had a few members around the country and released a handfull of user magazines before Camputers went down.\
I still have some copies of the magazines.\
We also modified the ROM with some special functions which were added to the interpreter and also we put in Norwegian national letters on spare space in the character table in ROM.\
I also had to build my own floppy controller from scratch as it was impossible to get a controller at the last days of the Camputers. I hardcopied a friends controllerboard by beeping track by track.\
I managed to get the new board work in my first attempt and were pretty proud of myself on that time.\
I got a Lynx 96 and Lynx 128 w/ CPM/M today. |
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| author |
date |
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| Graeme Mawson (Cambridge (UK)) |
Wednesday 22nd October 2003 |
Oh happy days. We (myself and a friend) had a shed load of these at one time I think they all ended up in a skip! :-( we wrote a word processor that sat in the third eprom slot, an assembler and a dissasembler. We also finished off the CPM and had it running a treat We used to sell the Computers, hardware and our software through Pheonix software in Manchester. Although the basic graphic system was slow by using assembly routines it could be sped up significantly. also using the alternate graphics page ment you could prepare the display in the back ground and then simply switch banks for an even faster appearance. I still have much software on disk and many LUG magazines, and I would love to be able to get hold of a Lynx now for nostalgia. |
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| author |
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| russell davis (Currently USA) |
Sunday 18th August 2002 |
well i had a couple of lynx's and loved it. i was involved with the user group (the original LUG :) ) and a few abortive attempts to improve it. unfortunatly before I left the UK I gavemine that had the sideways rom stuff and the reading user group scorpion rom away to a friend. but i really miss it. if anyone has the manuals for it and can scan them in for me and take a proper rom dump (you can tell it's good as the word DAVIS occurs in the first few bytes of the rom. i believe the rom programmer Davis Jansen put it there and I believe the name SuZy is in the first few hundred bytes IIRC) so i can write an emulator. i have a few of the other technical stuff but really need the manuals to read as my memory is a little fuzzy. |
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| author |
date |
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| Jean-Marie Rougeaux (France) |
Sunday 23rd August 2020 |
Bonjour\
Je suis à la recherche de jaquettes de jeux ou d''utilitaires du Lynx pour compléter ma documentation.\
Je possède le schéma du Lynx et nombreux logiciels.\
Je recherche également la partie 3 du logiciel Backgammon. Je possède les deux autres parties.\
Merci et salutations. |
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| author |
date |
text |
| Gordon (Britain) |
Friday 22nd February 2019 |
Hi.
Did they ever Make a Service manual ?
If so Does anyone know where I can download a Camputers Lynx Service Manual ? |
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| author |
date |
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| Anatole Beams (London) |
Saturday 25th January 2014 |
I have a Lynx 48k if anyone is interested. It was fully working last time I switched it on. I''ll have to drag it out and hook it up to a telly to check it, but it has been stored away nice and dry.
If anyone wants it, let me know and I''ll stick it on eBay.\
anatolebeams@abdm.co.uk |
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| author |
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| Frank Rasmussen (Denmark) |
Friday 12th October 2012 |
Hi Mark Baxter and Peter Norman, look at my homepage - it''s on its way to be a LYNX website, containing all information about the Lynx''es
I got a lot of schematics - also for "add on" hardware.
Regards\
Frank |
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| author |
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| Peter Todd (UK) |
Tuesday 9th October 2012 |
I have updated the emulator significantly over the last few years.
The current (as in released on the website) Win32 (VC++ and VB) version is 8.12
Running on 2000,XP upwards or under WINE
There are also now running versions for:
DOS 32 Bit under the DOS4GW extender\
Win32 SDL + FLTK\
Linux SDL + FLTK\
Raspberry Pi SDL\
An unfinished source for a PIC 18F + Parallax Propeller combo
These will shortly be released on my website.
I''m still on the lookout for more software written for the system.
Best Regards to all
Pete
Pale - http://heraclion.co.uk/palelynx.htm |
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| author |
date |
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| Frank Rasmussen (Denmark) |
Saturday 8th September 2012 |
If anyone need some information, manual, schematics or anything else about the Camputers LYNX, then write me an email frank@elborg.dk or look at my webpage www.elborg.dk , If I dont have the information You need then I will try to get it and provide You with the info.
/Frank |
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| author |
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| Mark Baxter |
Saturday 21st July 2012 |
Can anyone point me at LYNX websites.. I don''t seem able to find any when I do a google search.. I need technical documents and stuff !! |
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| author |
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| Peter Norman (England) |
Saturday 21st July 2012 |
Does any one know where I can download LYNX documents : User Manuals, Schematics, Service Manuals etc.. As these are extremely hard to find now. |
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| Bad Robot (England) |
Tuesday 17th July 2012 |
Does anyone know where you can download LYNX technical documents, Service Manuals etc.
Or any LYNX archives containing any LYNX documents.
Please post message pointing to website. |
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| author |
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| George P (Greece) |
Thursday 24th November 2011 |
A Lynx 96 was my first computer. I was so impressed by it that I followed an entire career in IT. It didn''t have many games like the other micro-computers or as impressive, but I really liked the ones it did have. |
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| Mike G (UK) |
Saturday 5th November 2011 |
I have several Lynx handbook which I am about to dispose off if they are not wanted. These are:\
Lynx Cassette Operation, Lynx DOS Manual, Lynx Printer Tech Manual and Lynx User Manual.\
If anyone is interested please let me know. |
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| author |
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| Frank Rasmussen (Denmark) |
Sunday 2nd October 2011 |
Im a computer collector from Denmark, I got a Lynx 96K and would like to add a diskdrive, and have found a schematic from camputerslynxinfo, but there are errors in the diagram. Then i saw that Peter Lenge from Norway write here in this forum, that he built his own interface, is it possible that You Peter would share Your diagram with the rest of us ? I would be very happe to get in contact with You. I got equipment to make real PCB''s - proff.
Best regards\
Frank |
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| Mark Sanderson (England ) |
Saturday 2nd July 2011 |
Has anyone put the LYNX into VHDL code so I can put it on my Altera DE0 FPGA board ??
It would be great to see it running on real hardware again !! |
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| author |
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| Lez (England) |
Monday 4th October 2010 |
Has anyone thought of putting the Lynx onto a FPGA(Field Programmable Gate Array) so that it can live again. It been done for other legacy compurters like the Coco 3 (now runnung at 25MHZ) and the Amstrad CPC464 (running at 24MHz) !! |
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| author |
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| Stuart Shaw (England) |
Tuesday 10th August 2010 |
When will the Lynx preservation site be live again ?
I''m in need of some schematics and just can''t find them anywhere !!
I have a 96k Lynx, and I''m interested in getting the disk drive controller working as well as the Joystick interface. |
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| author |
date |
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| Russell Davis (USA) |
Monday 8th June 2009 |
just wanted to let everyone know that I have updated the Camputers Lynx Preservation site and moved it from mediawiki to drupal and have also setup a group for the camputers lynx on facebook.
also if Petter Lenge could contact me either via the facebook group or via camputerslynx.info I would be grateful. actually if anyone wants to contact me with regard the camputers lynx i''d be interested to hear from them.
R. |
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| author |
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| Russell Davis (currently NYC) |
Monday 10th January 2005 |
i've setup a small wiki to try to collect as much info, software, pictures, schematics, docs... etc. as possible. if you are interested in the camputers lynx or have memories about it or details about the players involved or technical info please visit. |
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| author |
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| John Rostron (Earth) |
Thursday 17th June 2004 |
I remember that in Basic, the BEEP or SUUND commands stopped all on screen graphics movement for about 1/2 a second!!! My Lynx suffered from a row of bright dots/pixels down the left hand side of the screen. Although it went for repair on two occasions, it always came back with the same problem.\
There were virtually no good games for the Lynx and I always envied those Spectrum and BBC owners :-(( |
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| author |
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| Pete Todd (Aberystwyth, Wales) |
Monday 22nd December 2003 |
Mine was thrown out while I was away at uni., I was left with the memory board and a few tapes...
the tapes have been retrieved from the loft and\
an emulator has been written:
http://heraclion.users.btopenworld.com/palelynx.htm
happy christmas to all |
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| author |
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| Tony Darch (Swindon) |
Thursday 22nd May 2003 |
Well, I'd love to get my hands on one of these little babies. The one we had was dropped and it was busted. My old man wrote a few games for this. He tried to sell them himself but I dont think there wer more than a couple copies sold. I would love to get my hands on a lynx and some of the games he made, or at the very least an Emulator, I havent been able to find even that! Have you guys ever Heard of games called Pincerman and a small compilation of games Tower of rings, Blooker, Yahyzee and a couple I cant remember? Let me know.... |
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| Voyager (Greece) |
Saturday 29th June 2002 |
It's a very strange machine, awfully slow for a Z80 @4Mhz, and the memory usage is very strange. All my Lynx48K machines, have 96K installed. Only one has an extra Eprom that lets you use more than the 48Kbytes. Looking for the Lightpen and Disk Drive. |
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| author |
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| Guy Hindle (Southampton) |
Monday 11th February 2002 |
Just saying HI! to anyone else who has one.
I haven't bootde it up for quite a while, I'll try again now! |
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yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
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